Thameslink shortlist announced

UK: On July 10 the Department for Transport named Alstom, Bombardier, Hitachi and Siemens as the shortlisted bidders for a contract worth an estimated £1·4bn to supply trains for Thameslink services.

Bidders will be asked to produce 1 100 EMU cars for north-south commuter services through London, increasing the current fleet by around 380 carriages.

Detailed specifications for the 25 kV 50 Hz/750 V DC dual-voltage units will be included in the invitation to tender which DfT expects to issue in September. The winner is expected to be announced in summer 2009, testing will begin in autumn 2011, and the first train will enter passenger service by February 1 2012.